Let’s Dance – Sunday, 2nd March! Or as Arlene Phillips would say, get dancing! Dance teachers across the country are opening their doors, and inviting you to give dance a go.
What is Let’s Dance?
Let’s Dance is a national campaign to inspire everyone in the UK to embrace dance as a way to improve their health, connect with others, and have fun.
Founded by Angela Rippon CBE, the campaign is supported by leading organisations including Pineapple Dance Studios, the Sport and Recreation Alliance, NHS, and Parkinson’s UK.
Our mission is to get more people dancing together, regardless of age, fitness level, or experience.
Read more via lets-dance.org.uk.
What's on at Pineapple?
Pineapple Dance Studios is holding four £3 dance classes with some of our top dance teachers on Sunday 2nd March to get the nation moving! Check out our list of promo classes and info below:
🪩 Kids' Hip Hop Class with Janidra Baptista
Time: 12.30 - 1.30pm (60 minutes)
Level: All Levels, 7-12yrs
Get ready to groove at Kids Hip Hop Class! This fun open-level class is perfect for ages between 7-12—whether you're a pro or just starting out! Join for an amazing journey on the hip hop foundational moves, awesome choreography that’ll make you laugh and dance like a superstar! Put on your coolest kicks and let’s boogie!
🪩 Strictly Ballroom - Visual Impairment Accessible Class with Alice Gregory
Time: 1 - 2pm (60 minutes)
Level: All Levels, for people affected by visual impairment
Learn the fundamentals of Ballroom dance in this class tailored for participants living with visual impairment, supported by the RNIB and Retina UK. Alice encourages you to bring someone who supports you but there will also be enough class assistants to dance with you, they can also support you to walk to the studio from Covent Garden station.
We will learn the Waltz and Rumba through description and will practice to music with a partner. On registration your specific needs will be discussed to make the session as accessible as possible.
Limited spaces to ensure a good experience. To register please call or email Alice directly at 07805360709 or alice_gregory@hotmail.co.uk.
🪩 Over 60's Ballet with Josephine Holling
Time: 2 - 3pm (60 minutes)
Level: All Levels, +60yrs
Join Josephine, who is an ex-dancer herself if you would like a taste of, ‘a day in the life’ of a ballet dancer… all compressed into an hour! This is a gentle ballet class for adults of 60 years and over. The class will not include pirouettes or allegro sections but will include learning an excerpt from the classical repertoire (tailored to our present skills of course).
🪩 Kids' Lyrical Class with Laura Harrison
Time: 3 - 4pm (60 minutes)
Level: All Levels, 7-12yrs
A fun and encouraging space to explore contemporary dance for children! Laura's class focuses on building confidence, and practice basic contemporary techniques, along with learning a routine. This class is suitable to children of all levels aged 7 to 12 years old.
About our participating teachers
Jandira Baptist
www.jandirabaptista.com
Jandira Baptista is a highly accomplished and passionate dancer and choreographer who has dedicated her life to the world of dance and art. From an early age, she developed a deep love for dance and pursued it with determination and dedication.
Throughout her career, Jandira Baptista founded and choreographed for Fresh Flava, a dance group that has likely gained recognition for its unique style and performances.
Later she joined two of the most portuguese iconic crews Demolition and Go Real Us, organizers of “Roll the Dice” battle and few other events and international workshops for the dance community there.
Notably, she has had the opportunity to train with some of the best dancers and trainers in the world, including César Nusik, Elite Force Crew, Brian Green, Archie Burnett, Popin Pete, Thony Maskot, and Joseph Go. Her training took her to various prestigious dance institutions such as Juste Debout Dance School in France, Advance Street Style Lab in New York City, and Peridance, among others. This extensive training likely contributed to her development as a skilled and versatile dancer.
Jandira Baptista has also made a name for herself in the entertainment industry. She has appeared as a solo dancer in music videos for artists like Diztortion, David Carreira, Dj Link and DJ Antoine. Her talent and skill have also been showcased in dance battles and on television shows, including "Panda Biggs Dance Tutorials" and "7 Wonders of Angola." Furthermore, she has been involved in advertising campaigns for well-known brands such as Braun, Adidas, Sagres, Super Bock, BFA, and Bud Light Canada.
Alice Gregory
Alice is a finalist of many international and national Ballroom competitions from South Africa to Singapore and her lessons are based upon the ISTD technique. She also teaches Latin and Barre.
As an experienced health researcher, Alice is passionate about making dance relatable and accessible for the benefit of physical, mental and social health. Everyone will leave the class feeling they have achieved something!
Josephine Holling
Josephine trained at White Lodge and the Royal Ballet Upper School and graduated into the Royal Ballet Company at 17. Performing all the major classical ballets in the UK, and abroad, other works performed included Grosse Fugue and Septet Extra by Hans Van Manen and Ballanchine’s Allegro Brilliante.
Following her performing career, Josephine retrained to become an examiner for the Royal Academy of Dance and commenced teaching extensively. In 1990 she became Artist-In-Education for Birmingham Royal Ballet and ballet mistress to the Junior and Senior Associates of the Royal Ballet School in Birmingham. Prior to joining Millennium Performing Arts, Josephine was Dance Director for the Dance School of Scotland.
Laura Harrison
Born and raised in Hong Kong and now based in London, Laura is a commercial dancer specialised in jazz funk, hip hop, waacking and heels, and has also trained in popping, house, contemporary and jazz.
Her credits include Lenny Kravitz at the Champions League Final Kick Off Show 2024 at Wembley Stadium, A Night With Boy Blue at the Barbican Centre and Love Supreme Jazz Festival. She has also appeared in music videos such as with Jazz Emu, and performed with artists such as Kumari Suraj and Dubtendo.
Laura is currently part of Boy Blue Entertainment, the UK's leading hip hop theatre company, which allows her to continue develop her artistic identity.